Summary: 2 of 4 messages on prayer in the church. This message is based on Peter’s experience in jail and his miraculous release. Acts 12:1-10

Last week we talked about Peter and John’s arrest and the pressure put on them to stop talking about Jesus. We saw how the church gathered and prayed for boldness to speak the truth’s of God and the message of Jesus – and how their prayer was granted. The whole church was shaken and all gathered were filled with the Spirit of God as the spoke boldly the word of God.

What we learned is a very simple lesson – When we pray for the strength to do what God has called us to do – God’s response is swift and powerful. This is a lesson we should never forget.

Still, the pressure on the church did not relent. The church spoke boldly the things of God in the face of extreme challenges… The likes of which have occurred wherever and whenever faith in Jesus is proclaimed.

For example, when Caligula was Caesar, he took Emperor Worship seriously, putting a statue of himself in the Jewish Temple. This resulted in Jewish struggles and Roman persecutions. And Christians suffered greatly.

When Claudius became Caesar in 41 A.D., he backed down on “Emperor Worship,” made peace with the Jews, and both Rome and the Jews turned against the church which suffered even greater than before.

The Challenge was Staggering

1 During that same time King Herod began to mistreat some who belonged to the church.

The church prayed for him. But they didn’t just say a quick “bullet” prayer and go on with their activities. No – this prayer was a lot more substantial. The word translated as “earnestly” here means to pray fervently, deeply, and continuously. Ektenos means, “stretched out.” In this meaning we can see a person stretched out before the Lord in prayer – flat out on the ground.

We pray like this only when the stakes are high and the costs are higher.

Think about it. James, the brother of John has been beheaded with a sword. If they didn’t witness it as a public execution – which it most certainly was – then they had definitely heard about it. And then word spread quickly that Peter had been arrested and taken.

The church responded instantly and overwhelmingly – not in panic – but in prayer. In fact, as we follow the text to the high point of the story we see that many had gathered at one of their homes and were praying all night.

The Release was Astonishing

7 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the cell.